Flowerpot is a freelance journalist, author and walker who lives in Cornwall. My first book of walks, Discover Cornwall, was published by Sigma Press July 2012. Circular Walks with Cornish Writers was published in August 2015 and Walks in the Footsteps of Poldark was published in July 2016.

Monday, 22 October 2007

Striptease and Obesity

Remember that burlesque evening I mentioned last week? Well, the mystery is solved.

Cara Lester, a graduate from University College Falmouth invited the public to see her photography prints at a Candid Masquerade evening in the Toast bar. Cara likes to celebrate the beauty of curvaceous women through her pictures, focusing on striptease.

On the night of her photography exhibition, the bar was turned into a Moulin Rouge style rendezvous. (Remember that black stage with plastic rose petals?) The highlight of the evening was Ophelia Bitz, a London burlesque star, who entertained the audience with “comical songs and hands-free cocktail shaking” (the mind boggles). She must have been the one with the floor sweeping eyelashes.

Dressed in suspenders and heels with a gold glitter basque, Cara said “I was so nervous about the turnout. But I needn’t have worried. I can’t believe how many people came and they wall went to so much effort with their costumes.”

Er – what costumes? I thought it was striptease?

And also to do with Body Issues, is the news today that some schools are to write to parents to tell them that their children are obese. his presumes that the parents don’t actually know, I suppose. Or that they’re obese themselves. (I was going to add the picture from the BBC website but it makes me feel sick.)

To me, as an ignorant non-parent, surely all this has to start with the parents anyway? How on earth can a child be expected to eat well if the parents don’t?

There is so much information out there – now everything you buy from a supermarket has the fat, salt and sugar content plastered all over it. Why are these parents so ignorant? Or are they just stupid?

Sorry you missed that one RT! A friend of mine talked to some friends who are both doctors who said it's rubbish - obesity is all about eating the wrong kind of things and not enough exercise. That one will run and run, pardon the pun!

As someone who is obese, I feel entitled to comment. Heck I feel entitled to comment anyway.. LOL

Of course it is the fault of individuals. It is entirely MY decision what I put in my mouth, and to a large degree it is the parent's choice what their kids eat. At least until they get their own pocket money and hence can go out and buy junk.

But I also think that in the UK you have to try really hard to find healthy food, easily accessible. It is VERY easy to find highly fattening food at ridiculously low prices all over the high streets. I often come back empty handed when I try to fetch a healthy lunch somewhere in high street. Or empty wallet-ed when I resign myself to go into M&S because they seem to be the only ones.

Healthy food should be cheaper than junk food and just as easily accessible. Why is it that still or sparkling water is still more expensive (in most restaurants I go to) than soda and juice?! That makes no sense.

it's not always people's fault. i don't know about the UK, but here in the US the cheapest food is the fattiest and least nutritious food. you can get a giant burger at mcdonald's for a dollar. macaroni and cheese is sometimes on sale for 3 boxes for $1.

low-income people can't afford to eat healthy. that's the long and short of it.

the new york times had a great series last year about diabetes, and how it is sharply rising in inner city neighborhoods because low-income people eat mostly fatty salty food. it's what they can afford.

there are lots of reasons for obesity, but that is definitely one of them.

Dee - I think you have a good point - healthy food should be more accessible. And I don't have children as I said, which I'm sure makes my life easier for shopping. I was horrified by a friend recently, feeding her son massive amounts of sugar when he's hyperactive anyway. But what can I say? I'm not a parent..

I do agee that high fat, processed food is what a lot of us are snacking on at lunch times, and that's not helping matters. But surely, ensuring that children get a healthy breakfast and evening meal isn't that difficult to achieve, is it?

"And also to do with Body Issues, is the news today that some schools are to write to parents to tell them that their children are obese"...........

As a parent I would be horrified to receive such a letter! I am happy to say that none of my kids are overweight...... but I do think that the Government should be more concerned with more important stuff than telling parents what their children should and shouldn't eat.

And healthy food should definitely be made more accessible and much cheaper!

I wish my parents would have gotten a letter like that. This problem has to be tackled by providing information in the first place, not by telling people off for feeding their kids the wrong food.And then by providing the right food, easily and inexpensively.

Walks in the Footsteps of Cornish Writers

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About Me

I am a freelance journalist with a Diploma with Distinction for Freelance and Feature Writing from the London School of Journalism. I have been a regular contributor to Cornwall Today (Regional Magazine of the Year, 2009) since 2008 writing regular walks, features, antique pieces, health, business and humour. I have interviewed Bill Bryson, Ian Rankin, John O'Farrell, Patrick Gale, Lionel Shriver and Rosamunde Pitcher for Writers' Forum and Cornwall Today. My work has also appeared in Classic Boat, Classic Sailor, Woman's Weekly and Nursing Standard. In addition I have written several novels, one of which is being read by an agent as I write.
Discover Cornwall, my first book of Cornish walks was published by Sigma in June 2012, Walks in the Footsteps of Cornish Writers in 2014, Walks in the Footsteps of Poldark in 2015, and Walks in the Footsteps of Daphne du Maurier will be published in 2017.
I am also a seaside landlady, getting used to life without my lovely husband who died at the end of 2010. I live in Cornwall with my scruffy canine Mollie and keep sane by singing, walking and seeing my wonderful mates.